legacycentral bbs

So about 2 weeks ago , or so, I washed my engine compartment. Now I was on the go, at lunch, stopped at a self serve carwash, soaked the engine compartment with de-greaser, closed the hood cleaned the rest of the car, opened the hood, cleaned under the hood, closed hood, rinsed the rest of the car. Then I get in and start it and got the dreaded...”C.E.L”. I have done this procedure maybe hundreds of times and not just on this car, however this is the only time I have encountered a problem with it on this vehicle. At first I thought it was probably just some moisture that would evaporate and go away, thus causing me no more problem. Simply not the case. Finally got around to pulling codes. Came up with 22, 23, 35. Now that’s the knock sensor, the air flow sensor and the canister purge solenoid valve, respectively. I’m thinking it is not likely that all 3 of these items have failed at once, although it is possible. I’ve checked the wiring, the physical condition of each component, reset the codes in E.C.U.
So, to the question.

Does anyone out there know what would cause this to happen? Possibly something like a relay that provides power to each of the three affected things? Sadly I have not gotten out the multi meter and checked these things. I started to then it got to confusing, the book said to check pins 8,9,&10 on th M.A.F. WELL exuuuuse me for having the one that only has 5 wires. Slammed hood went back inside(pissed) sorry

If you've reset the ECU and the codes haven't come back, I'd chalk them up to wires/harness getting wet.

They have come back. Several times. In fact the C.E.L. only stays off for an instant after being reset.

Sounds like wiring issues then.

I'd suggest you download the FSM Josh has put together, which gives detailed troubleshooting steps for each of the codes you've listed.

None of those codes should stop the car starting, or trying to start at least. Under the circumstances you'd have to assume it was caused by the water, either getting into a multi-plug and shorting signals together, or, and it would be much less likely, you water-blasted a connector/wire apart. I'd pull all the multi-plugs apart and dry them really well with air and crc.

Yeah, I checked all the connecters and dried them with the air compressor and still the same. I haven't had any problen with starting or trying to start, however mileage is down as well as power. Knock sensor code retards timing.

try a new knock sensor atleast or a good used one and see if the one code goes away.

When the cEL came on, how was the motor running? How's it being now? Sure sounds like the water must have caused it.

A few years ago I did a very similar thing and fried my igniter. I got a single drop of water in the igniter housing, which caused an arc between two of the very small wires in there, breaking them.

I chased that stupid problem around for days - it's a tough bit to diagnose because it could be literally almost anything. If I were you I'd start on the harness that the MAF connects to, I believe the canister purge is also on the same connector (could be wrong, it's been a while), then just start eliminating things. It takes about 45 minutes with a multimeter to trace the whole engine circuit.

I also second replacing the knock sensor - they are fragile little buggers. Your's could have had a tiny crack in the side and only began acting up because a little water got in it.

It runs almost as good as it did before the CEL came on, however mileage is down and so is power. I think I have another knock sensor somewhere around my garage, if I can find it I will try it this weekend. My feeling is that water got into something and fried it or cracked it or something. Thanks for all the input. I will keep you posted on any progress.

douglas vincent wrote:Fuck me in the butt as in unwanted prison love.

My feeling exactly!!

Problem turned out to be the purge solenoid, just that, not the other things. Curious how it would cause all three codes.

Just lucky I guess.